Catholic Church of the Annunciation - New York City
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Church of the Annunciation
(Roman Catholic)

80 Convent Avenue at 131st Street
New York, N.Y. 10027
http://www.theannunciation.net/


Organ Specifications:
80 Convent Avenue at 131st Street (since 1907)
• II/18 Unknown Builder (c.1907)
Bloomingdate Road at 131st Street (1854-1907)
• Henry Erben or Richard M. Ferris (1841?)


The Roman Catholic Parish of the Annunciation was founded in October 1852 by Archbishop John Hughes to serve Irish Catholic laborers on the Hudson River Railroad. Under the guidance of the Rev. Arthur J. Donnelly, the congregation held its first services in a donated colonial-style house that also included classrooms and sleeping quarters for the students of nearby Academy of the Holy Infancy, the precursor to the present Manhattan College. Plans were made to build a permanent church at West 131st St and the old Bloomington Road (now Broadway), and the cornerstone was laid on November 27, 1853 by Archbishop Gaetano Bedini, the first Papal envoy to the United States. The completed church was dedicated in the winter of 1854 by the Very Rev. William Stares, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York. Students of Manhattan College used the church for prayer, retreats, baccalaureate Masses and graduation.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Manhattanville had become more urbanized and the congregation had outgrown the old church. The Christian Brothers sold the old property to Archbishop John Hughes, and lots at West 131st St and Convent Avenue were purchased for a new and larger church. The cornerstone for the present building was laid in September 1906. As designed by Lynch & Orchard, the church seated 700 and included stained glass windows, the brass altar rail and baptismal font from the old church. The completed church was dedicated on December 15, 1907 by Archbishop John Farley.

A school was built with the church on West 131st Street between Amsterdam and Convent Avenues, with a new addition in 1964.

In 1977, the church was put under the pastoral guidance of the Piarist Fathers.
         
  Catholic Church of the Annunciation - New York City
Unknown Builder
(c.1907)
Tubular-pneumatic manual action
Electric pedal action
2 manuals, 16 stops, 18 ranks








The organ in the present church building is the work of an unknown builder. From notes recorded in 1968 by Larry Trupiano, then an employee of Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service firm in the area, it seems quite probable that the organ was moved from the previous building on Broadway. The unknown builder converted the mechanical action to tubular-pneumatic for the manuals and provided electric action for the pedal stops. It is believed that the original organ was built by Henry Erben or, more likely, Richard M. Ferris, of New York City. The organ was probably in one case, but when moved to the present church was divided and installed in two cases that flank the large window in the gallery. Mr. Trupiano noted the Great 8' Claribel had newer pipes for notes 13-58, and that the Swell 8' Oboe was newer, probably contemporary with the opening of the building in 1907.

Mr. Henry J. Benavides (Clayton, N.C.) has provided additional information about the organ, stating that the original (c.1907) console had tubular action but was replaced in 1971 by an electric console donated by J.H. & C.S. Odell, Yonkers, N.Y. Odell also made some repairs to the Great division at that time, with plans to rebuild the Swell when the church could provide additional funding. As of 2012, the status of this organ is unknown.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Claribel [13-58 c.1907]
58
     Mixture, 3 ranks [marked 'Sesq"]
174
8
   Gamba [old Bell Gamba]
58
8
   Trumpet
58
4
   Principal
58
8
   Clarinet
58
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute [old marked "Pyr"]
58
8
   Viola [old marked "Ker"]
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Oboe [c.1907]
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes [orig. 25 notes]
16
   Open Diapason
30
        
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal       Swell to Great  
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Great Octaves  
    Pedal Octaves          
         
Organ in original church building:

Unknown Builder
(c.1841)
Mechanical action


Various sources suggest that the organ in the original church was possibly built by either Henry Erben or Richard M. Ferris, both of New York City. One source gives the date 1841, which predates the construction of the original building. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Benavides, Henry J. Electronic correspondence (Aug. 14, 2010) concerning work done on the organ in 1971.
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     Church of the Annunciation web site: http://www.theannunciation.net/
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808–2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications (1968) and notes about the organ.

Illustrations:
     Church of the Annunciation web site. Interior showing organ gallery.
     Henderson, Jim. Exterior.